Sen. Ruth Johnson recognizes Michigan election workers

Sen. Ruth Johnson recognizes Michigan election workers

LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Senate on Thursday approved a resolution by Sen. Ruth Johnson to honor local clerks and election workers who made the state’s November general election possible during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Our election workers are the heart of our democratic system — allowing our local clerks and their staffs to provide our citizens with the ability to express their voices as voters,” said Johnson, chair of the Senate Elections Committee and former Michigan secretary of state. “Every election, these dedicated people work long days to preserve our democracy. This year, they also risked their health and safety to work at the polls on Election Day and at the absent voter counting boards amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am proud to sponsor this resolution to recognize the hard work and commitment of our clerks, their staffs and election workers for everything they did to make the recent general election possible under unprecedented circumstances.”

Senate Resolution 151 says the November general election in Michigan saw its highest recorded voter turnout to date with 5.56 million voters total, which is over half a million more than the previous record high turnout in 2008, when 5.04 million people voted.

It also notes that in addition to the health and safety concerns, the COVID-19 pandemic presented unique complications and logistical concerns that elections workers had to cope with during the process.

“Michigan election workers faced record voter participation, record numbers of absentee voting and uncertain conditions — yet they persevered and kept our democracy alive,” said Johnson, R-Holly. “We cannot thank them enough for their efforts.”

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